There is a wind of change. It started at the end of the last century. It gathered speed with increasing awareness through information technology and economic reforms. The liberating human spirit and new opportunities, and the success stories with the economic growth, have led to widespread aspirations above caste and creed for better quality of life and better future for children.
The increasing awareness with education, connectivity and communication, inter-regional migration and inter-caste/religion marriages, and new opportunities improving prospects led to this changing wind. People have moved on above caste, communities, minority-majority attitude and or any ideology. Hindutua politics lack steam and post Babri protectionist politics has lost its appeal despite periodic reminders by Media. The caste combinations (M-Y, B-D) and quota based politics has lost relevance because corruption and poor policy implementation failed to deliver the benefits to the deserving. Even the minority tokenism to Muslims, considered the traditional en-block vote bank, has not proved beneficial in improving their socio- economic backwardness, and that Muslims seem to have now realised. The Sachar committee report which is always referred to highlight their backwardness is revealing that minority tokenism harmed Muslims more by keeping them marginalised instead helping them.
The opportunistic-competitive politics, in the current state elections, by various political parties, for electoral mobilisation by providing reservations, laptops etc does not seem to amuse people now anymore. Muslims emerging out of identity-minority mindsets cease to be vote banks and they too have similar demands for education, jobs and healthcare as any other. There is also decreasing fear from parties considered communal because the environment is such that whoever comes to power can not have any exclusive agenda and will have to work for inclusive growth. And riots as political strategy, in the present scenario the way Modi is hounded, has lost its relevance. The aspiration driven people desire to be empowered to improve their economic situation and social mobility. Even those poor who felt helpless and lived all these years in hope on the promises, and received attention only during the elections are feeling the power to assert for getting their rights and demands.
The other reasons for this change are:
First. The social mobility of the underprivileged has been motivating. They have competed for IIT and IIMs, Civil services, and dalits are entrepreneurs. They all have come of their own efforts and not entirely through reservations. This has enthused parents that future of their children lies in education. Even poor, because government schools are defunct, send their children to private schools. Muslims also now want to fight their backwardness through education and employment.
Second Modi’s governance model, development in Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgragh and Nitish Kumar’s turn around for inclusive growth and public security, has led people to believe that good politics and good governance can bring results providing education, jobs and better quality of life, and a defunct ‘system’ can be re-activated has kindled hope.
Third Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement has touched the cord of people who suffered corruption at every level for long. The clamouring demand is for accountability, governance and speedy trial for the corrupt. The young and the aspiring participated in large numbers. The civil society’s proactive role in exposure of 2G scam has drawn people’s attention. The dismissal of corrupt Ministers and comparatively less number of aspirants with criminal background during this election to uphold Party’s clean image seem to be the Anna hazare’s affect. People have come to believe that those with clean image and imaginative ideas can only bring change.
The last and most important reason is that for the young who constitute a large part of the population the old tactics will no more work. They are not burdened with caste considerations and post Babri generation do not carry any Babri baggage. They are passionate with self dignity and belief, and want need based policies and not promises. They are looking for the leaders (irrespective to caste or religion) who can address the issues of education, health and industrilisation providing jobs.
The wind of change is driven by the demands of the young and also by their parents who aspire better future for their children. The enthusiastic participation in rural –urban areas (having common demands) and also of the women (for family welfare) during these elections reflects the mood of the people. yeh satta parivartan ke laher hai, is indicative of the wind for change. It also indicates their belief in democracy which promises equality without discrimination, caste or religious consideration or privileges of riches or birth. They did not vote on the basis of community, caste, family or en-block but voted for credibility, and rejected non-performers and those with criminal background. Those who lost in these elections, the basis was corruption, poor governance and nepotism. People demand politicians to deliver, think new and progressive and for their welfare. The education and better health will enable them to avail new opportunity, and the underprivileged need more support to instil confidence than the crutches of reservations.
Indeed if economic growth and development, and poverty reduction can happen even with the prevailing corrupt and degraded ‘system’ and poor infrastructure, then imagine economic growth with young educated healthy population and better governance. This is possible only when politicians connect with people to know the ground realities, when the spirit of constitution is not disregarded, and there is accountability along with judicial and electoral reforms. This wind of awareness is driving the people demanding change, and politicians will have to change with good politics to gain people’s acceptance.
Dr S K Srivastava is a consultant surgeon.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and not necessarily of therandomthnik.com
The increasing awareness with education, connectivity and communication, inter-regional migration and inter-caste/religion marriages, and new opportunities improving prospects led to this changing wind. People have moved on above caste, communities, minority-majority attitude and or any ideology. Hindutua politics lack steam and post Babri protectionist politics has lost its appeal despite periodic reminders by Media. The caste combinations (M-Y, B-D) and quota based politics has lost relevance because corruption and poor policy implementation failed to deliver the benefits to the deserving. Even the minority tokenism to Muslims, considered the traditional en-block vote bank, has not proved beneficial in improving their socio- economic backwardness, and that Muslims seem to have now realised. The Sachar committee report which is always referred to highlight their backwardness is revealing that minority tokenism harmed Muslims more by keeping them marginalised instead helping them.
The opportunistic-competitive politics, in the current state elections, by various political parties, for electoral mobilisation by providing reservations, laptops etc does not seem to amuse people now anymore. Muslims emerging out of identity-minority mindsets cease to be vote banks and they too have similar demands for education, jobs and healthcare as any other. There is also decreasing fear from parties considered communal because the environment is such that whoever comes to power can not have any exclusive agenda and will have to work for inclusive growth. And riots as political strategy, in the present scenario the way Modi is hounded, has lost its relevance. The aspiration driven people desire to be empowered to improve their economic situation and social mobility. Even those poor who felt helpless and lived all these years in hope on the promises, and received attention only during the elections are feeling the power to assert for getting their rights and demands.
The other reasons for this change are:
First. The social mobility of the underprivileged has been motivating. They have competed for IIT and IIMs, Civil services, and dalits are entrepreneurs. They all have come of their own efforts and not entirely through reservations. This has enthused parents that future of their children lies in education. Even poor, because government schools are defunct, send their children to private schools. Muslims also now want to fight their backwardness through education and employment.
Second Modi’s governance model, development in Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgragh and Nitish Kumar’s turn around for inclusive growth and public security, has led people to believe that good politics and good governance can bring results providing education, jobs and better quality of life, and a defunct ‘system’ can be re-activated has kindled hope.
Third Anna Hazare’s anti-corruption movement has touched the cord of people who suffered corruption at every level for long. The clamouring demand is for accountability, governance and speedy trial for the corrupt. The young and the aspiring participated in large numbers. The civil society’s proactive role in exposure of 2G scam has drawn people’s attention. The dismissal of corrupt Ministers and comparatively less number of aspirants with criminal background during this election to uphold Party’s clean image seem to be the Anna hazare’s affect. People have come to believe that those with clean image and imaginative ideas can only bring change.
The last and most important reason is that for the young who constitute a large part of the population the old tactics will no more work. They are not burdened with caste considerations and post Babri generation do not carry any Babri baggage. They are passionate with self dignity and belief, and want need based policies and not promises. They are looking for the leaders (irrespective to caste or religion) who can address the issues of education, health and industrilisation providing jobs.
The wind of change is driven by the demands of the young and also by their parents who aspire better future for their children. The enthusiastic participation in rural –urban areas (having common demands) and also of the women (for family welfare) during these elections reflects the mood of the people. yeh satta parivartan ke laher hai, is indicative of the wind for change. It also indicates their belief in democracy which promises equality without discrimination, caste or religious consideration or privileges of riches or birth. They did not vote on the basis of community, caste, family or en-block but voted for credibility, and rejected non-performers and those with criminal background. Those who lost in these elections, the basis was corruption, poor governance and nepotism. People demand politicians to deliver, think new and progressive and for their welfare. The education and better health will enable them to avail new opportunity, and the underprivileged need more support to instil confidence than the crutches of reservations.
Indeed if economic growth and development, and poverty reduction can happen even with the prevailing corrupt and degraded ‘system’ and poor infrastructure, then imagine economic growth with young educated healthy population and better governance. This is possible only when politicians connect with people to know the ground realities, when the spirit of constitution is not disregarded, and there is accountability along with judicial and electoral reforms. This wind of awareness is driving the people demanding change, and politicians will have to change with good politics to gain people’s acceptance.
Dr S K Srivastava is a consultant surgeon.
The views expressed here are those of the writer and not necessarily of therandomthnik.com